Interchangeable ground traction for self-propelled vehicles



Feb. 9, 1954 D. F. INTERCHANGE PRZYBYLSKI ABLE caounp TRACTION FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 27, 1949 Feb. 9, 1954 D. F. PRZYBYLSKI INTERCHANGEABLE GROUND TRACTION FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES 8 Shams-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. .27, 1949 INVENTOR. an er/2 BY Feb. 9, 1954 Filed Jan. 27, 1949 F PRZYBYLSKI 2,668,738

D. INTERCHANGEABLE GROUND TRACTION FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 D. F. PRZYBYLSKI INTERCHANGEABLE GROUND TRACTION FOR SELFP'PROPELLED VEHICLES A. Q NM ho F ab. 9, 1954 Filed Jan. 2'7, 1949 fikm Feb. 9, 1954 o. F. PRZYBYLSKI 2,668,738 INTERCHANGEABLE GROUND TRACTION FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES Filed Jan. 27, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

Feb; 9, 1954 D. F. PRZYBYLSKI INTERCHANGE ABLE GROUND TRACTION FOR SELF-PROPELLED VEHICLES 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 2'7, 1949 INVENATOZ gm/q/e 4% Q mm i 1 Feb. 9, 1954 D FPRz BYLSKI 2,668,738

INTERCHA'NGEABLE" ROUND TRACTION FOR SELF-PROPELLEID VEHICLES Filed Jan. 27, 1949 a Sheets-Sheet s IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'INTERCHANGEABLE GROUND TRACTION FOR SELF-PR OPELLED VEHICLES Daniel F. Przybylski, Winona, Minn.

Application January 27, 1949, Serial No. 73,092

'1 Claim.

the novel traction devices and combination of such devices.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a self-propelled trench excavator including a truck frame mounted on front steering wheels and rear dual driving wheels equipped With pneumatic tires, some parts being broken away and sectioned;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in rear end elevation and partly in transverse vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. l, with the exception that half tracks have been substituted for the rear dual Wheels;

Fig. 4 is a View partly in rear end elevation and partly in transverse vertical section taken on the line 4- of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view principally in plan, with some parts sectioned on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and '7 are detail views partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section taken, respectively, on the lines 6-6 and ll of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the cleats and a fragment of the attached driving chain, as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of 'thecleat, shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, with the exception that three-quarter tracks have been substituted for the rear dual wheels;

Figs. 11 and 12=are views partly in elevation and partly in transverse vertical section taken,

respectively, on the lines Il-H and [2-H of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view partly in elevation and partly ameter.

2 in longitudinal vertical section taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but much more fragmentary, with the exception that full tracks have been substituted for the rear dual wheels;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 14;

Figs. 16 and 1'7 are viewspartly inelevation and partly in section taken on the lines l t-A5 and l'i|l, respective1y,of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal vertical section takenon the line til-i3 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectioned on the line ill-49 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is an inside plan view of one of the three-quarter track cleats; and

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal edge portion of the same.

The invention shown in Figs. 1 and .2 will first be described in detail, to wit: the numeral 211 indicates a self-propelled truck and of the parts thereof, it is important tonote the longitudinal sills 2 I, the front steering wheels :22, andtherear dual wheels 23 equipped with pneumatic tires 24, the steering mechanism 25,-the internal combustion engine 26, its shaft 21 with connections 23 to the shaft 28 of transmission mechanism in the housing 3i), the gear shift lever 3|, the rear axle housing 32, the differential housing 33 and the axle drive shafts 34 journaled in the rear axle housing 3 2. .For :the purpose ;of this case, it is not thought necessary to show the driving connections from the transmission mechanism through the differential mechanismto the axle drive shafts 34, for the reason that it is so well known.

The engine is mounted on the front end portions of the sills 2| and a trench excavator frame 35 is mounted on said .sills at their rear end portions. Ashovel drive shaft .36 is journaled in bearings 37 on 'theframe 35. Certain parts of shovel scraping 'means .38 are mounted on the frame 35. A cross-conveyor 39. is mounted onthe sills 2! under the frametfiii.

Integral with the outer endof each axle drive shaft 34 is an annular flange 4i] thatcaps the respective end of the axle housing 32. A hub 4| is mounted on each outer end portionof the rear axle housing 32 which is-of reduced di- The hubs 4| are detachably secured to the flanges wby machine screws 42 that ex- ;tend through .holes in said flanges and :have

threaded engagement with the adjacent end portions of the hubs 4|. Integral with each hub 4|, at its intermediate portion, is an annular flange 43 having a plurality of outwardly projecting circumferentially spaced nut-equipped screw studs 44.

A brake drum 45, having therein brake mechanism 46, is provided with a housing 41 having an outwardly tapered section 48. On the outer end of the housing section 48 is an inturned flange 49 that overlaps the outer side of the flange 43 and is secured thereto by the screw studs 44. A washer-like ring is mounted on each hub 4| and provided with holes through which the screw studs 44 project. The webs 5| of the dual wheels 23 have axial apertures through which the hubs 4| project-and holes for the screw studs 44 that clamp said webs onto the spacing rings 50.

Referring now in detail to the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, wherein half tracks 52' have been substituted for the dual wheels 23. Parts in Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, that correspond to like parts in Figs. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals followed by the letter a, To make the substitution above noted, it was necessary only to remove the nuts of the screw studs 44, withdraw the dual wheels 23 and the spacing rings 59 from said screw studs and the hubs 4i and in place thereof mount the sprocket wheels 53 of the half tracks 52 on the hubs M by axial movements to project the screw studs 44 through holes provided therefor in the webs of the sprocket wheels 53 and replace the nuts of said screw studs.

Each half track 52, in addition to its sprocket wheel 53, includes a horizontally disposed rectangular frame 54 comprising relatively long side bars 55 and relative short end bars 55. The frame bars 55 and 56 are flat and positioned vertically edgewise. On the lower longitudinal edge portions of the frame side bars 55 are outwardly projecting reinforcing flanges 51 and pairs of short upright reinforcing plates. The frame 54, at its outer side bar 55, is secured to the frame 35 by a hanger bracket 59 having a bifurcated lower end portion 60 that straddles said side bar and is secured thereto by a pin 6|. The hanger bracket 59 is secured at its lower end portion to the respective sill 2W by a brace 59'. The inner side bar 55, at its upper longitudinal edge portion, is notched at 82 to receive the axle housing 32 and is held suspended from said housing by a clamp 83. This clamp 53 comprises a saddle'64 that rests transversely on the axle housing 32 and a lower member 64' in which said housing rests. This lower clamp member 64 is rigidly secured to the frame bar 55. A pair of draw bolts 85 extend through holes in the end portions of the saddle 84 and the lower clamp member 64 and connect said saddle to the lower clamp member 84 On each end of the frame 54 is a horizontally disposed box-like guide 85 for a sprocket wheel bracket 8?. The guides 66 are aligned with the driven sprocket 53 that is within the frame 54. Converging brace plates 98 for the guides 66 extend from the corners of the frame 54 to the outer ends of said guides. Each bracket 6? includes a pair of laterally spaced side plates 69 and a pair of laterally spaced cross-tie plates that rigidly connect said side plates at their inner end portions. These brackets 61 are slidably mounted in the guides 65 and project outwardly thereof. An

'idle sprocket wheel H is journaled on a short shaft 12 securedin the outer end portions of the 4 1 side plates 69 of each bracket 51. The idle sprocket wheels H are aligned with the driven sprocket wheel 53 and the upper and lower members of the guides 56 are notched at E3 to afford clearance for said idle sprocket wheels.

The brackets 6'! may be endwise adjusted in the guides 88 to either retract or project the idle sprocket wheels H by take-up screw rods 14 having heads l5. These screw rods 14 have threaded engagement with nuts 15 rigidly secured to the end cross-tie plates it on their inner sides. Nuts TI on the screw rods l4 impinge the frame end bars 56 as bases of resistance. Holes '58 in the inner cross-tie plates '38 permit free endwise movements of the screw rods '54 therethrough. Sprocket chains '59, driven by the sprocket wheels 53, run over the idle sprocket wheels 1|. Cleats 8|) pivoted to the sprocket chains 19 afford endless tracks. Obviously, the screw rods 14 afford tighteners for the sprocket chains is.

Referring now in detail to the invention shown in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, wherein three-quarter tracks 8| have been substituted for the half tracks 52, shown in Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, like parts in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, that correspond to like parts in Figs. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals followed by the letter b. Each three-quarter track 8| includes a lower main frame 82 and an upper secondary frame 83. The main frame 2 includes a pair of laterally spaced side plates 94 rigidly connected by front, intermediate, and rear cross-tie angle bars 85. On the upper longitudinal edges of the side plates 84 are outturned reinforcing flanges 88 and on the rear ends of said side plates are downturned flanges 8'? that form continuations of the flanges 85. The side plates 84, at the forward portions of its lower longitudinal edge portions, are upwardly inclined.

The secondary frame 83 includes a pair of longitudinal angle bars 88 that overlie the side plates 84 and are supported therefrom by front, intermediate and rear pairs of short angle bar posts 89. The secondary frame 83 further includes a pair of cross-tie angle bars 96 that connect the longitudinal angle bars 88 at their forward end portions. Mounted on the cross-tie angle bars 99 at the transverse center of secondary frame 83, is a longitudinally extended plate 9| having downturned portions, for a purpose that will presently appear. Cover plates 92 extend from the longitudinal edges of the plate 9| transversely downwardly to the longitudinal angle bars 82, see Fig. 11.

Each three-quarter track 3| is mounted on a fixed transverse shaft 93 enabling it to oscillate in a vertical plane. This shaft 93 is held suspended from and under the sills 21 by short H beams 94 rigidly secured to said sills and shaft. The shaft 93 extends through a pair of aligned tubes 95 on each track 3| that rest on the flanges 88 and against the rearmost pair of posts 89 to which they are rigidly secured. Stop collars 96 on the shaft 93 are engaged by the innermost tubes 95 and limit inward sliding movement of the tubes 95 on the shaft 93. A relatively large driven sprocket wheel 91', of the self-cleaning type, is mounted on each hub 4| and secured thereto by the screw studs 44 for rotation with the axle drive shaft 34 At the front end of each track is a relatively small idle sprocket wheel 98 aligned with the driven sprocket wheel 91.

On the front end of each track 8| is a mount and a take-up for each idle sprocket wheel 98 similar to the sprocket wheel 91. Each mount is a bracket 99 that includes a pair of forwardly and downwardly projecting laterally spaced bearing bars I between which the idle sprocket wheel 98 extends. This idle sprocket wheel 98 is secured to a short shaft IOI journaled in a pair of aligned holes in the forward end portions of the bearing bars I00. These bearing bars I90, at their rear end portions, overlap the forward end portions of a horizontally disposed 1- member I02 slidably mounted in a box-like guide I03. This guide I03 is supported on and rigidly secured to a pair of transverse angle bars I04 that rest on the flanges 86 of the side plates 8-0 to which they are rigidly secured. The bracket 99 is yieldingly pressed forwardly by a coiled spring I05 to tension the three-quarter track M which comprises hinged cleats I06 having teeth I01 that mesh with aligned sprocket wheels 9! and 98. This spring I05 is held compressed between a plate I08 that bears against the inner end of the I-member I02 and a follower plate I09 which is adjusted in the guide I03 by a long headequipped take-up screw rod H0. The screw rod IIO has threaded engagement with a nut III rigidly secured to a plate II2 that closes the inner end of the guide I 03 and secured thereto by machine screws H3. The lower run of the sprocket chain I 06 runs under front, intermediate and rear pairs of idle directional wheels II4 journaled in the side plates 84 of the main frame 82.

The two tracks 8I are cross-connected at their front end portions for independent oscillatory movement by a front axle I I5 in the form of a flat bar that is edgewise upwardly bowed. This axle H5, at its intermediate portion, extends between the side members of a bolster H0 in the form of an inverted channel that extends transversely under the sills 2I and rigidly secured thereto. The axle H5 at its longitudinal center is pivoted at I I! to the bolster [I5 and its end portions extend between the sides of short narrow channel members H8 and pivoted thereto at H9. The channel members II8 extend between the side plates 84, rest on the angle bars 85 and are rigidly secured thereto. The upper run of the sprocket chain I06 is supported on the plate 91.

The full tracks I20 shown in Figs. 14 to 19, inclusive, are of the same structure as the threequarter tracks 8| except that they are longer with certain added parts. Parts shown in Figs. 14 to 19, inclusive, that correspond to like parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and like parts that correspond to like parts in Figs. to 13, inclusive, are given the same reference numerals followed by the letter 0. Each full track I20 has five pairs of wheels H4 in place of three pairs shown in the three-quarter track 8|. The upper run of each full track I20 between the plates 9I and the sprocket wheels 91 is supported on a pair of idle wheels I2I similar to the wheels 4. These wheels I 2I are journaled in bearings I22 on the angle bars 88. When the full track I20 is used, the front steering wheels 22 are dispensed with.

From the above description, it is evident that the purchaser of this equipment may select a machine equipped with the type of traction best suited to his general needs, and the digging conditions most frequently encountered, and at the same time have available for installation on the same machine, on the job if necessary, any of the other three types of traction than that with which the machine was originally equipped, to meet any possible ground condition.

What I claim is:

A main frame, a rectangular frame on each side thereof and pivoted relative to the main frame to swing about a horizontal axis, a driven axle, the end portions of which extend transversely into the rectangular frames, a sprocket Wheel fixed to each end portion of the axle at substantially the transverse center of the respective rectangular frames, a long guide secured to each rectangular frame at each of its ends and projecting outwardly thereof, and having channel side members in opposing relation, a long slide mounted in the side members of each guide, each slide, at its outer end portion being bifurcated to afford a pair of prongs, an idle sprocket extending between the prongs of each pair and pivoted thereto, all of the sprocket wheels, the guides, and the slides being in the same vertical plane, means for moving the slides in their guides and for holding the same where positioned, and a sprocket chain arranged to run over the sprocket wheels of each rectangular frame.

DANIEL F. PRZYBYLSKI.

References Cited in the file Of this; atent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,354,219 Seltenright Sept. 28, 1920 1,404,520 Gregory Jan. 24, 1922 1,442,550 Wickersham Jan. 16, 1923 1,685,676 Linn Sept. 25, 1928 1,774,835 Lombard Sept. 2, 1930 1,808,735 I-Ienneuse et al June 2, 1931 1,980,849 Christie Nov. 13, 1934 1,991,502 Henneuse Feb. 19, 1935 2,110,587 Bennett et a1. Mar. 8, 1938 2,288,474 Manning June 30, 1942 

